News Release — Minister Alexander commends RCMP for laying citizenship and immigration fraud charges

Ottawa, August 30, 2013 — Canada’s Citizenship and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander today commended the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in Nova Scotia for a thorough investigation into alleged residence fraud.

“I want to applaud the outstanding work done by RCMP investigators in this matter,” said Alexander. “To those who would lie or misrepresent themselves to the Government, consider this a warning that we will continue to apply the full strength of Canadian law and crack down on citizenship fraud.”

Charged with a number of criminal code offences including misrepresentation and false representation, Basem Farid Awaad of Bedford will appear in Halifax Provincial court on December 5th, 2013.

The Government of Canada offers a tip line through the CIC Call Centre where tips on suspected citizenship fraud cases may be reported.

Cases involving false representation, fraud or knowingly concealing material circumstances in the citizenship process – for example, pretending to be present in Canada to meet the residence requirements for obtaining citizenship – should be referred to the citizenship fraud tip line at CIC’s Call Centre at 1-888-242-2100 (in Canada only, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. local time, Monday through Friday). 

Tips may also be reported by e-mail at Citizenship-fraud-tips@cic.gc.ca.

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For further information (media only), please contact:

Andrea Khanjin
Minister’s Office
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
613-954-1064

Media Relations
Communications Branch
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
613-952-1650
CIC-Media-Relations@cic.gc.ca

Building a stronger Canada: Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) strengthens Canada’s economic, social and cultural prosperity, helping ensure Canadian safety and security while managing one of the largest and most generous immigration programs in the world.